Athletic Artist - The Dancers Podcast

In this episode, I chat with Darcy and Ben from Primed 2 Performer, professional performers who are training professional performers! From training to the gym, Darcy and Ben give you an insight into what it takes to maintain peak performer without dancing into burnout. What's so incrdible about these two is the fact they are still working professionals in the industry. So not only do they give...

If you're deep in show prep or DWC prep right now, this episode is for you. Your dancers are tired. The routine is looking tired. The energy in the room is tired. And you know that another full-out run is probably going to make things messier, not better. So what do most teachers do? Run it again. Because we've all heard it before: practice makes perfect. But what if more runs of a tired r...

Nicola sits down with dance educator and former West End performer Alicia, owner of Afonso School of Performing Arts, and graduate of the Certificate in Dancer's Injury Prevention (SCQF-8) to explore the realities of a professional dance career beyond the highlight reel. From winning competitions as a young dancer and landing her dream role in We Will Rock You at just 19 years old , to navigat...

In this episode, I’m joined by Alex, one of the first graduates of the Certificate in Dance Injury Prevention, to chat about her journey from musical theatre training to building her own dance fitness business. We talk about rediscovering joy in dance after burnout, creating positive and safe class environments, the realities of teaching, boundaries, confidence, injury prevention, and why dancers...

Rehearsal season can feel like chaos - weekend comps, extra rehearsals, tired dancers, and 'silent' injuries that don’t stop your dancers dancing… but can stop them reaching their full potential. In this episode, I’m breaking down a simple tool used in high-performance sport that you can use in the dance studio straight away:  RPE (Rate of Perceived Exertion) . You’ll learn what it is, why...

Wow, it's been a minute (2 years ...). There's so much that's changed inside our world, and with bringing the podcast back, I felt like we needed a re-introduction! At the Dance Teachers Training Academy, our ethos is about training dancers like athletes - using strategies and principles that high performing athletes and Olympic coaches use because ... well, our dancers are ATHLETIC AR...

Join me as we chat with the incredible Charlotte, a Scottish dancer, now living in London! From performing with Ellie Goulding at the BRITS to performing in Fast & Furious, Charlotte shares how her secret is to keep being a beginner. We explore the transition from Scotland to London, both personally and professionally, uncovering the emotions and practical hurdles of this transition. Charlotte...

Welcome to Athletic Artist: The Dancers Podcast! This week, we're diving deep into a topic that's all too familiar for dancers: pain. The phrase "the show must go on" is often thrown around, but what happens when pushing through pain becomes the norm? We're unpacking the complex relationship between dancers and pain, exploring the difference between good pain and bad pain, and giving you the tools...

In this episode, I'm joined by the wonderful Nadia, from Iris, to delve into the complex factors influencing a dancer's relationship with food, exploring societal pressures, the unique demands of the dance world, and the common themes that emerge among dancers struggling with nutrition and body image. We emphasize the importance of prioritizing health alongside performance success and offe...

In this episode, we are joined by photographer, Nathan McGregor, where we talk about how to create a versatile, diverse and employable portfolio. We chat about; - Communicating with your photographer - Finding individuality - Building confidence - Preparation and improvisation Let us know your thoughts and as always, share this episode if you found it helpful and tag us Nic - @nicthomsonfit Nathan...

In this episode, Tess and I discuss how your teaching practices impact your students. We chat about: - The transition from dancer to teacher and the lack of teaching skills - Things our teachers said to us - How to prepare your students for the industry without breaking them - How to communicate better with your students - Finding a balance between being strict and being too soft - How to better c...

As a performer do you feel you need to 'earn' your rest? Do you feel overtraining is a badge of honour and means you're the hardest working in the room? I did too, but it burnt me out! In this episode, join me and my friend from university, Tess, as we discuss how to recover properly to keep you at the top of your game as a dancer. Discussion Points; - The signs and symptoms of not tak...

Hello Athletic Artists,  In this episode, I chat with my good friend, Mick, who has a wealth of knowledge in the industry from performing, choreographing and teaching.  We chat about;  - His journey from the construction site to the MOBO Awards  - Having the humility to always be a learner  - What it takes to survive in the industry - Preparing for a casting (get your notepad ready) - Audition pre...

The best way to reduce injury as a dancer? GET STRONGER Happy New Year and welcome back to the podcast! In this episode I discuss; - The most common injury sites as a dancer - How to build new fitness standards as a dancer - The best way for you to reduce injury Follow me over on instagram at athleticartist_thedancerscoach and let's connect! If you enjoyed this podcast episode share it with a...

In this episode I chat with one of my good friends, Rachel Hone. Rachel and I met in college and you could say we were allies - from traveling to London together for auditions paying 10p to do our make up in Euston Station toilets to working with the same cruise line company on our first 'big' contract. We've been there to support, encourage, challenge and inspire one another and I thi...

In this episode, Eva share her experiences of having a poor relationship with body, mind and health. We chat about how this impacted career choices, relationships and love for dance. TW: Please be aware we discuss the topic of eating disorders which may be distressing for some listeners. Listener discretion is advised. - Eva's dance journey from professional dance training to fitness coach - &...

Lisa's energy is so infectious. I can guarantee this episode will bring light to your life after listening to Lisa. Lisa is an NLP qualified, Manifestation Coach. She tells us of her journey from West End Performer to her Coaching journey while sharing some very valuable insights and tools to help us begin our own manifestation journey. - Lisa's trialling and turbulent, but incredible jour...

I LOVED recording this one with Beth because we got to take a trip down memory lane (8 years ago) where we shared a cabin on our first ever cruise ship contract!! I mention in this but Beth helped me grow up ... literally! I was only 18 years old on my first contract and she helped me through some 'firsts', a lot of emotional experiences and also how to do my laundry lol. Beth is so ambiti...

Morgan is currently studying a PhD in Sport Psychology where she is exploring emotional regulation for dancers. She has written a paper discussing deselection (rejection) and the impact it has on the dancer ... which is exactly what we dived into in this episode! I can't wait for you to listen to this! - Morgan's transition from dancer to psychologist - How rejection impacts the performer...

In today's episode we discuss how to prepare for an audition that's so much more beneficial than jumping into a split 2 minutes before you learn the combo - Not having your boob fall out your top - Moving through space and time - Connecting with your body - My Celine Dion superstition Follow me on instagram at @nicthomsonfit Or join Athletic Artist and receive a 7 day FREE TRIAL today at w...

I've taken one of our trainings in the Athletic Artist membership and popped it right into your ears for a listen. In this episode I discuss: - What cross-training is and how it makes you a better dancer - Why it is essential for dancers technique and performance development - What type of cross-training is encouraged and why - How to incorporate cross-training into your show and rehearsal sch...